Tie lifter and holder



TIE LIFTER AND HOLDER. APPUCA-TION man FEB. 26,1921,

"1,391,822. wnwdsepu- 27, 1921.

- INVENTOR.

5 ATTORNEY.

ROBERT -E-VJQJTS, OF OTHELLO, WASHINGTON.

TIE LIFTER AND HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 27, 1921.

Application filed February 26, 1921. Serial No. 447,995.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT EVANS, a citizen of the United States, residin at Othello, in the county of Adams and tate of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tie Lifters and Holders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in tie lifters and holders and has for an important object thereof the provision of a device whereby a tie may be gripped while it is elevated and may be held in the elevated position while earth is tamped beneath the tie without the necessity of an operators attendance.

A further object of the inventionis to provide a device ofthis character which is so constructed that while the tie is held in the elevated position it is possible to spike the tie to the rail. j p

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is adjustable'in order that ties of varying width may be engaged thereby.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become a parent throughout the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout,

Figure 1 is a side elevation partially in section of a tie lifter constructed in accordance with my invention showing the same applied for use, the dotted lines indicating the position of the lifter and tie prior to the elevation of the tie,

Fig. 2 is a detached perspective of the tie and rail engaging portions of the tie lifter,

Fig. 3 is a perspective of an end of one of the plier members showing the plate employed for gripping the tie, and

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the automatic rope clutch employed.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates an end portion of a lever which is formed of metal and has secured to one end thereof one plate of a hinge 11. To the other plate of the hinge 11, as at 12, a pair of links 13 are pivotally connected, the free ends of these links ar pivotally connec e as t o the portions 15 of a pair of plier memextremities of the arms being limited by the engagement of the arms with the plates to prevent the plates from swingingltoo far about their pivots. These plates have formed upon their adjacent faces, teeth or tle engaging members 22 adapted to engage 1n the sides of a tie T to prevent slipping thereof when engaged by the plates.

The under surface of the fulcrum member '10 has formed therein a transverse recess 24 adapted to receive therein the head of a rail R, the ends of the recess forming shoulders 25 engaging against the rail head to prevent slipping of the fulcrum member thereon. The sides of the fulcrum member adjacent the rail head engaging surface are flattened, as at 26, so that the fulcrum member will not interfere with driving of the spikes in the tie to hold the rail to any great extent. The opposite end of the fulcrum member 10 to that to which the hinge 11 is secured is adapted, as at 22, for engagement in the socket of a lever 23.

To the lever 23, adjacent the opposite end thereof, I secure a ring 27 which receives the ring 28 of the frame work 29 of the sheave 30. To the lower end of this frame work 29 I secure a rope 31 which passes about removable block sheave 32 and thence back about the sheave 30. To the frame work 29 I pivotally connect a cam member 33 which engages the rope 31 as it passes over the sheave 30 and permits passage thereof in one direction but which engages the rope to prevent the return passage thereof. The frame work of the sheave 32 has connected thereto a hook 34; adapted to engage the opposite rail R from that engaged by the fulcrum member 10.

In the use of my device, the tie is first slipped beneath the rails until it occupies approximately its proper position, and the plier members 16 are then employed to clamp the sides of the tie while the fulcrum member has its recess engaging the adj acent rail, the handle porton 23 projecting toward the opposite rail of the track. The hook 3a, after the tie has been engaged by the plates 21, is engaged with the rail at the opposite side of the track and the tie elevated until it engages firmly against the under surface of the rail R by pulling upon the rope 31. When the handle member 23 can be drawn downwardly no farther, the rope 31 is released and is held against return movement by the cam 33.

It will be seen that the tie is held in its elevated position without the necessity of the operator holding the handle 23 and leaving this operator free to engage in the work of tamping the necessary material beneath the tie to hold it in elevated position. It is pointed out that while the tie is so held the spikes may be driven therein to hold the same against shifting by reason of the fact that the sides of the fulcrum member 10 are reduced, as hereinabove set forth.

It will likewise be obvious that my device, by reason of the fact that it permits holding of the tie without requiring the services of an operator, and by reason of the facility with which the same may be employed, is particularly well adapted for the use for which it is intended, and it will furthermore be obvious that the construction of the same as hereinabove set forth is capable of some change in modification without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I accordingly do not limit myself to the specific construction hereinabove set forth except as hereinafter claimed.

l/Vhat I claim is:

1. In a device of the type described, a lever adapted adjacent one end for engagement with a rail, toggle tongs carried by said end for engaging a tie to be elevated and means for connecting the opposite end of the lever and the other rail of the track for elevating the first named end of the lever and holding said end in elevated position, comprising a rail engaging hook, a block and tackle connection between said hook and the last named end of the lever, and means associated with the fiexibleelement of said block and tackle normally preventing movement of the flexible element in a direction permitting separation of the blocks thereof.

2. In a device of the class described, a lever adapted adjacent one end for engage- .ment with the tread of a rail, a plate pivoted for vertical swinging on said end, toggle tongs having means on their jaws for engaging a tie to be elevated, arms pivoted to the plate for vertical swinging at right angles to the movement of the plate, said arms pivoted to the handles of said tongs, and means attached to the opposite end of the lever and to the opposite rail for elevating the first end.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

ROBERT EVANS. 

